ISRAEL captain Yossi Benayoun branded England's flops as a bunch of "pussy cats" after their dismal draw in Tel Aviv.

The West Ham midfielder admitted he expected more from England and sympathised with the travelling 3,500 fans after claiming the pressure has now been turned up on Steve McClaren.

Benayoun said: "We were worried about the English hooligans, but even their fans were like pussy cats. This was a big result for us against one of the big nations.

"They had the chances in the second half. But still they didn't win. Neither of the two teams deserved to win.

"We made it hard for them in defence.

"They had to play against 11 players who got back every time, and pressed Lampard and Gerrard when they had the ball, so it was a difficult game for them. But it was a good point for us.

"I looked more for my team to play better football. In the first half we created one or two good chances, we didn't in the second half. We were tired.

"Of course people expect more from the England national team, but they need to understand they have a lot of pressure. And Israel don't lose many at home.

"There is a lot more pressure when you play for the national team. In the league, if you lose a game you can win the next game.

"With the national team you can lose a game and wait four or five months to get a chance to take back the points. So it is different, a lot more pressure.

"They didn't do it because we made the game hard for them. We went back with 11 players, we pressed well in the places where we were supposed to press, and they didn't create a lot of things."

Benayoun also believes Israel can have a major say in who wins Group E.

He added: "We can decide this group now because we are in the same situation as England, same points, they have a little advantage because we have to play at Wembley in September. For me I hope England and Israel go through."

Israel keeper Dudu Aouate added: "Every England player performed OK, not brilliantly. But we made them look ordinary because we played tactically well.

"I am happy as England are a very good team. We must beat Estonia, but England will finish first in the group."

ENGLAND'S World Cup-winning rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward has urged England manager Steve McClaren not to be afraid of dropping star players if they do not have a winning mentality.

"Sometimes talent is not enough, especially in team sports," Woodward said. "It's not as simple as putting the best 11 players on the pitch. A lot more goes into the make-up of a team."